Day 10-Farewell to the City

Saturday, June 12, 2010—Day 10

approaching Sagamore Hill

This was our first day out of New York City. Gone were the skyscapers closing in on me, gone were the roaring subways and the press of people all around me. I was curious to see what the day would hold. Our goal today was Sagamore Hill located on Long Island. Sagamore Hill, the home of Teddy Roosevelt was designed by his sister Anna in the Oyster Bay area. The house was decorated with President Roosevelt’s many hunting trophies from Africa and North America. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures inside the Sagamore Hill home. A particular story that our guide told us caught my interest. One of Teddy Roosevelt’s requirements for his children was to read one book per day. At dinnertime, Roosevelt would ask his children questions about the books that they had read. If a child was unprepared for this nightly activity, the punishment was to eat in the kitchen at the very

Teddy Roosevelt's study

small table with the house staff an hour later. Roosevelt greatly believed in raising literate children! The same punishment applied to Roosevelt’s children if one of them was late to dinner. Punctuality was another must in the Roosevelt family. Added to the house in 1905, the North Room was the room where Roosevelt conducted presidential business and displayed many gifts that he had received from foreign dignitaries. The house was quite a treat to walk through, seeing so many outstanding art objects and family mementos.

The short walk to Oyster Bay was a pleasant change from the hum and noise of New York City. Green, leafy surroundings and a soft dirt trail led to the shores of Oyster Bay where geese and swans swam among the reeds. Solitude was everywhere as I watched the sailboats cruise past. What a change from just hours before!

on the boardwalk to Oyster Bay

view from the boardwalk

looking at Oyster Bay

The Presidential Museum was a history lesson for me. Teddy Roosevelt is not a part of the 7th or 8th grade Social Studies curriculum in D-60, so I knew little of him before viewing the museum exhibits. Teaching various aspects of Roosevelt’s public life would be one effective approach in a Civics class. Teaching about

Roosevelt political cartoon

Roosevelt’s conservation policies in a Geography class would work well too. I particularly enjoyed scrutinizing the many political cartoons about Roosevelt and reading his famous quotes that were located at every exhibit. Roosevelt is definitely a president worth teaching to students and incorporating a lesson into the mandated curriculum is a must!